‘£206 for one mile was fair – I was going uphill!’ Oxford Street rickshaw cyclist defends his steep prices after being challenged by police – and claims journey should have cost TWICE as much

He insisted it was fair because he was pedalling uphill along Oxford Street

Russian claimed he arrived in the UK seven days ago on a tourist visa

Police officer told driver he was ‘exploiting tourists’ and ‘ripping them off’

A shameless rickshaw driver who charged tourists £206 for a one-mile journey has insisted it was fair because he was pedalling ‘uphill’ – and claimed it should have cost twice as much.

Juris Dzjabovic, 22, spoke to the Daily Mail after video footage emerged of him charging the extortionate fee for a ten-minute trip along Oxford Street in Central London that would have cost about £7 in a black cab.

Moscow-born Mr Dzjabovic, who calls himself a ‘rising star’ in Russian opera and claims to be in Britain on a tourist visa, boasted: ‘I don’t come cheap. I work my legs hard, I look good and I play good music – you have to pay a lot if you want that kind of luxury.

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Rickshaw driver Juris Dzjabovic charged tourists £206 for a mile-long trip, but insisted it was fair because he was pedalling ‘uphill’

‘I charged £206 because there were four people and I was going uphill. I didn’t even charge them the full amount – it should have been £412. Sure, £10 a minute is expensive, but that’s only if I go uphill. For downhill, it’s £10 for ten minutes.

‘Everyone is saying that black cabs are cheaper. Of course they are – it’s just one guy and the engine does everything. The fact is everything is expensive in London. I am not the bad guy, I just do my job like everyone else.’

Mr Dzjabovic said he arrived in the UK just seven days ago and claimed to have immediately begun working as a rickshaw cyclist for Glow Taxis.

Rickshaw rip off! Driver charges tourists over £200 for ride

One of the policemen told the driver that he was blatantly ripping off the tourists because the journey should not cost £10 per minute

A spokesman distanced the company from Mr Dzjabovic, saying he worked semi-independently by hiring a rickshaw from them, and sternly denied sanctioning £10-a-minute fees.

An unrepentant Mr Dzjabovic maintained that his passengers were told about the rate as they boarded, and claimed he ended up accepting just £40 after being challenged by a passer-by, two police officers and taxi driver Richard Long, who filmed the scene on his phone.

It is understood police took no further action despite one officer accusing him of ‘exploiting’ the tourists, who appeared to be two women in headscarves with two children.

The rickshaw driver asked one of the officers how much he should charge for the service but appeared to refuse to hand back any of the money

Moscow-born Mr Dzjabovic, who calls himself a ‘rising star’ in Russian opera, claims to be in Britain on a tourist visa

London’s rickshaws, also know as pedicabs, are popular with tourists but lack of regulation is said to give drivers free rein to charge inflated fees.

The Mail spoke to Mr Dzjabovic as he was due to start another shift. Asked if he would still charge £200 or more for a one-mile journey, he said: ‘Of course. Why not? That is good business.’

Tourist visas – or Standard Visitor visas – are valid for up to six months. Visitors are not supposed to work, but may apply for a ‘permitted paid engagement’ extension if the work relates to their ‘main area of expertise’.

A spokesman for London mayor Boris Johnson said: ‘The mayor has serious concerns about the pedicab trade.’

The rickshaw driver attempted to charge the tourists £206 for a mile-long journey from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch